Soft magnetic alloy for clock-making

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a soft magnetic alloy with the following composition in wt. %: 28%≦Ni≦34%, 0%≦Co≦4%, 0%≦Cu≦4%, 1%≦Cr, 0%≦Mo≦8%, 0% ≦Nb≦1%, 0%≦Mn≦2%, 0%≦V≦5%, 0%≦W≦5%, 0%≦Si≦4%, 0%≦Al≦4%, 0% ≦C≦0.4%, optionally one or several elements selected from magnesium and calcium the content of which is such as to remain below 0.1%, the rest being iron and impurities from production. The chemical composition furthermore satisfies the following relationships: 180.5≦6×Ni2.5×(Cr+Mo+V+W+Si+Al)+4×(Co+Cu)≦197.5 et Co+Cu≦4%. The invention relates to the use thereof for production of a stator for use in a motor for clock-making.

The present invention relates to a soft magnetic alloy and to its use in a motor for watchmaking.

The hands of analog quartz watches are moved by a miniature electric motor known as Lavet-type stepper motor (see FIG. 1). This motor comprises a bipolar rotor 1 consisting of a permanent magnet, a stator 2 cut from a strip of soft magnetic alloy and a wound core 3 made of soft magnetic alloy possibly different from that of which the stator is made. The stator includes isthmuses 4 and 5 that have to be as narrow as possible.

To manufacture the stator of an electric motor for watchmaking, it is known to use soft magnetic alloys of the 80% nickel alloy type containing a few percent of molybdenum or copper, or of the Fe-36.5Ni-7.5Cr type alloy type or else of the Fe-50Ni-10Cr alloy type. These alloys have a coercive field of less than 100 mOe for thickness between 0.4 and 0.8 mm, within the temperature range from −20° C. to +70° C., and a saturation induction, B_(S) of greater than 4000 gauss at 40° C. However, these alloys are expensive, and it is desirable to have a less expensive alloy. However, such an alloy is not known.

The object of the present invention is to propose a soft magnetic alloy suitable for the manufacture of an electric motor stator for watchmaking, which is less expensive than the known alloys.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a soft magnetic alloy, the composition of which comprises, in % by weight:

-   -   28%≦Ni≦34%     -   0%≦Co≦4%     -   0%≦Cu≦4%     -   1%≦Cr     -   0%≦Mo≦8%     -   0%≦Nb<1%     -   0%≦Mn<2%     -   0%≦V<5%     -   0%≦W<5%     -   0%≦Si<4%     -   0%≦Al<4%     -   0%≦C≦0.4%,         optionally, one or more elements taken from magnesium and         calcium in contents such that their sum remains less than 0.1%,         the balance being iron and impurities resulting from the         smelting, the chemical composition furthermore satisfying the         relationships:         180.5≦6Ni−2.5(Cr+Mo+V+W+Si+Al)+4(Co+Cu)≦197.5         and         Co+Cu≦4%.

Preferably, the alloy contains more than 2% chromium and preferably also contains more than 1.5%, or even more than 2%, molybdenum.

The invention also relates to an electric motor stator for watchmaking, made of an alloy according to the invention, and to the stator of such a motor.

The invention will now be described in greater detail.

FIG. 1 shows a Lavet-type electric motor for a watch.

The alloy according to the invention contains, in % by weight:

-   -   between 28 and 34% nickel, element necessary for obtaining good         magnetic properties, but very expensive however;     -   from 0% to 4% cobalt and/or copper, the sum of these two         elements remaining less than or equal to 4%, in order to obtain         good magnetic properties: these two elements have a significant         and advantageous effect, like nickel, on the magnetic properties         and allow the % Ni to be limited. In addition, copper is much         less expensive than nickel;     -   at most 0.4% carbon in order not to degrade the magnetic         properties;     -   at least 1%, and preferably more than 2%, chromium so as to         obtain good corrosion resistance, but preferably less than 7.5%,         and more particularly preferably less than 6.5%;     -   optionally up to 1% niobium in order to improve the mechanical         properties;     -   optionally, molybdenum, vanadium, tungsten, silicon or aluminum,         in amounts of less than 8% in the case of Mo, 5% in the case of         V and W and 4% in the case of Si and Al, so as to increase the         resistance and the magnetic performance (in particular the         coercive field); preferably, the molybdenum content must be         greater than 1.5%, or even 2%, so as to improve the mechanical         properties and thus reduce the cross section of the isthmuses 4         and 5 (and therefore to increase the efficiency of the motor)         while maintaining the same geometrical stability of the stator.         Furthermore, a molybdenum content of greater than 1.5% prevents         any inopportune coloration and/or oxidation during annealing in         NH₃;     -   up to 2% manganese, in order to increase the hot convertibility         and the magnetic performance; and     -   optionally, one or more elements taken from magnesium and         calcium in contents such that their sum remains less than 0.1%,         so as to improve the mechanical cutability.

The balance of the composition consists of iron and impurities resulting from the smelting. Among these impurities there may especially be titanium, which it is preferred to limit to less than 0.003%, preferably less than 0.002% and more particularly preferably less than 0.001% since it is deleterious to use in the field of watchmaking. This is because the present inventors have found that the presence of this element could substantially increase the cohesive field after annealing, something which would not be desirable for these applications.

Furthermore, and so as to obtain magnetic properties allowing the manufacture of a miniature electric motor stator for watchmaking, i.e. a coercive field H_(C) between −20° C. and +70° C. of less than 100 mOe and a saturation induction B_(S) at 40° C., for an induction of 40 Oe, of greater than 4000 gauss, the chemical composition of the alloy must satisfy the condition: 180.5≦6Ni−2.5(Cr+Mo+V+W+Si+Al)+4(Co+Cu)≦197.5.

Apart from the magnetic properties that have just been indicated, the alloy exhibits very good aqueous acid corrosion resistance. This corrosion resistance can be measured by measuring the maximum current I_(max) that flows between an electrode made of the alloy and a reference electrode made of platinum which are immersed in an aqueous sulfuric acid solution having a concentration of 0.01 mol/l when the voltage between the two electrodes is varied. With the composition defined above, the current I_(max) remains less than 3 mA.

The alloy may be smelted by any known means, for example in an induction furnace or in a submerged arc furnace, and then, after solidification, it may be hot-rolled and cold-rolled in order to obtain, for example, a strip from which parts are cut which are annealed, for example either statically between 1100° C. and 1200° C. for 1 to 10 hours in a reducing atmosphere (for example in hydrogen), or on the run between 1000° C. and 1100° C. for 5 to 30 minutes, in a reducing atmosphere.

By way of example and comparison, the alloys whose composition and mechanical properties are given in Table 1 were produced.

Examples 2, 3, 5 to 7, 9, 10 and 14 to 15 correspond to the invention. Examples 1, 4, 8, 11 to 13 and 18 to 20 are given by way of comparison. In these examples, the balance of the composition is iron and impurities.

For these examples, the alloy was smelted by vacuum induction melting and cast in the form of ingots, which were forged between 1000° C. and 1200° C. and hot-rolled between 1150° C. and 800° C. in order to obtain strip products 4.5 mm in thickness. These strip products were pickled, cold-rolled down to a thickness of 0.6 mm without intermediate annealing and then cut into roundels of 36 and 25 mm diameter which were annealed at 1170° C. for 4 hours in hydrogen.

The coercive field H_(C) at −20° C. and +70° C., the saturation induction B_(S) at 40° C. in a field of 40 oersteds, and the maximum corrosion current I_(max) in an aqueous sulfuric acid solution containing 0.01 mol/l where then measured. TABLE 1 H_(c) (in H_(c) (in B_(s) (in 6Ni − 2.5X + mOe) mOe) at G) I_(max) No. Ni Cr Mn Co Mo Cu Nb C 4(Co + Cu) * −20° C. 70° C. 40° C. (mA) 2 33.46 4.88 0.133 0.014 0.014 0.01 <0.01 0.0066 188.62 59.5 26 6950 0.50 inv 3 33.66 7.95 0.188 0.01 0.01 0.01 <0.01 0.0041 182.14 26 9.5 4500 0.60 inv 5 33.7 8 0.187 2.07 0.01 0.01 <0.01 0.0066 190.50 56 18 5950 0.65 inv 6 33.8 8.23 0.192 2.06 0.01 0.01 0.2 0.0070 190.48 43.5 13.5 5500 0.70 inv 7 33.94 2.01 0.172 0.026 5.79 0.01 <0.01 0.0074 184.28 37 13 4600 1.60 inv 9 31.84 8.23 0.174 3.07 0.01 0.01 <0.01 0.0150 182.76 23.5 7 4700 0.70 inv 10 33.55 8.17 0.172 0.014 0.01 0.01 <0.01 0.0160 180.95 14.5 5.5 4150 0.70 inv 14 33.78 2.02 0.186 0.01 2.03 0.01 <0.01 0.0150 192.64 39.5 19 7350 1.60 inv 15 33.78 1.02 0.183 0.01 1.21 0.01 <0.01 0.0130 197.19 42.5 24 8150 2.50 inv 16 31.68 8.03 0.176 0.01 0.027 2.97 <0.01 0.0120 181.86 42 13 4700 0.65 inv 17 30.14 2.09 0.193 0.01 0.01 2.99 <0.01 0.0130 187.59 43 21 6550 1.60 inv 1 33.96 2.64 0.259 1.96 0.01 0.01 <0.01 0.0089 205.02 120 58 9800 1.20 comp 4 33.83 5.1 0.152 2.02 0.01 0.01 <0.01 0.0067 198.33 107 34.5 8400 0.50 comp 8 32.29 1.87 0.166 0.01 0.082 3.92 <0.01 0.0083 204.58 108.5 44.5 9650 1.70 comp 11 31.84 8.2 0.173 0.011 0.01 0.01 <0.01 0.0150 170.60 12 — 500 0.70 comp 12 30.09 2.06 0.162 0.007 0.01 0.01 <0.01 0.0140 175.43 31.5 — 300 1.60 comp 13 33.8 8.14 0.172 0.011 0.01 0.01 <0.01 0.479 182.51 105.5 52.5 5200 0.70 comp 18 32.2 0.71 0.223 0.01 0.01 0.01 <0.01 0.0130 191.48 38 22 8300 3.60 comp 19 30.5 0.42 0.195 0.01 1.63 2.2 <0.01 0.0140 186.72 44 24 6800 4.10 comp 20 30.9 8.95 0.177 0.01 0.01 3.9 <0.01 0.0130 178.64 35 11 3500 0.90 comp * In the formula, 6Ni − 2.5X + 4(Co + Cu), X = Cr + Mo + V + W + Si + Al.

These examples show that in the compositional field corresponding to the invention, the alloy satisfies the conditions required for manufacturing an electric motor stator for a watch, namely H_(C)<100 mOe between −20° C. and +70° C., B_(S)>4000 G and I_(max)<3 mA, whereas outside this range these conditions are not satisfied.

In particular, in the case of the counter examples 1, 4, 8 and 13, the nickel, cobalt, copper and chromium contents are such that 6Ni−2.5X+4(Co+Cu)>197.5 and, under these conditions, H_(C) at −20° C. is greater than 100 mOe.

In the case of counter examples 11, 12, and 20, the nickel, cobalt, copper and chromium contents are such that 6Ni−2.5X+4(Co+Cu)<180.5 and, under these conditions, B_(S) is less than 4000 gauss.

In the case of counter examples 18 and 19, the chromium contents are too low and I_(max) is greater than 3 mA, which corresponds to insufficient corrosion resistance.

The following examples of alloys more particularly well suited to the manufacture of stators for watch motors were produced:

-   -   1. Fe—Ni33.7-Cr8-Mn0.3 alloy, contains about 33.7% nickel, 8%         chromium and 0.3% manganese, the balance being iron and         impurities resulting from the smelting. Roundels were produced         from this alloy under the same conditions as for the previous         examples. The properties obtained were:         -   B_(S)=4500 G; H_(C)=26 mOe at −20° C. and 9.5 mOe at 70° C.;             I_(max)=0.6 MA.         -   This inexpensive alloy has the advantage of containing             neither copper nor cobalt, which makes it easier to recycle             the scrap;     -   2. Fe—Ni33.8-Cr2-Mo6-Mn0.3 alloy, which contains about 33.8%         nickel, 2% chromium, 6% molybdenum and 0.3% manganese, the         balance being iron and impurities. The properties obtained,         under the same conditions as for the previous examples, were:         -   B_(S)=4200 G; H_(C)=38 mOe at −20° C. and 15 mOe at 70° C.;             I_(max)=1.6 mA.         -   This inexpensive alloy has a 20% higher mechanical strength             (increase in maximum strength of 80 MPa after annealing at             1170° C.) compared with the previous example containing no             molybdenum, thereby making it possible to produce stators             with narrower isthmuses and reduced magnetic losses (and             therefore stepping motors of higher efficiency or a lower             battery consumption by the watch);     -   3. Fe—Ni33.5-Cr5-Mn0.3 alloy, containing about 33.7% nickel, 8%         chromium and 0.3% manganese, the balance being iron and         impurities resulting from the smelting. Roundels were produced         from this alloy under the same conditions as for the previous         examples. The properties obtained were:         -   B_(S)=6950 G; H_(C)=59.5 mOe at −20° C. and 26 mOe at 70°             C.; I_(max)=0.5 mA.         -   This inexpensive alloy has the advantage of having a high             saturation induction B_(S), allowing it to be used instead             of alloys of the Fe—Ni80 type without having to redesign the             motors; and     -   4. Fe—Ni30-Cr2-Cu3.7-Mn0.2 alloy, which contains about 30%         nickel, 2% chromium, 3.7% copper and 0.2% manganese, the balance         being iron and impurities. The properties obtained, under the         same conditions as for the previous examples, were:         -   B_(S)=7400 G; H_(C)=45 mOe at −20° C. and 24 mOe at 70° C.;             I_(max)=1.6 MA.         -   This alloy, which is particularly inexpensive since it             contains only 30% nickel and about 4% copper, can, owing to             its magnetic properties, substitute for any known alloy of             the prior art without having to redesign the motors. 

1. A soft magnetic alloy, the composition of which comprises, in % by weight: 28%≦Ni≦34% 0%≦Co≦4% 0%≦Cu≦4% 1%≦Cr 0%≦Mo≦8% 0%≦Nb<1% 0%≦Mn<2% 0%≦V<5% 0%≦W<5% 0%≦Si<4% 0%≦Al<4% 0%≦C≦0.4%, optionally, one or more elements taken from magnesium and calcium in contents such that their sum remains less than 0.1%, the balance being iron and impurities resulting from the smelting, the chemical composition furthermore satisfying the relationships: 180.5≦6Ni−2.5(Cr+Mo+V+W+Si+Al)+4(Co+Cu)≦197.5 and Co+Cu<4%.
 2. The alloy as claimed in claim 1, the composition of which is furthermore such that: Cr≧2%.
 3. The alloy as claimed in claim 1, the composition of which is furthermore such that: Mo≧1.5%.
 4. The alloy as claimed in claim 1, characterized furthermore in that: Cr≦7.5%.
 5. The alloy as claimed in claim 1, characterized furthermore in that it contains less than 0.003% titanium.
 6. The alloy as claimed in claim 5, characterized furthermore in that it contains less than 0.002% titanium.
 7. An electric motor for watchmaking, the stator of which consists of a soft magnetic alloy as claimed in claim
 1. 8. An electric motor stator for watchmaking, consisting of a soft magnetic alloy as claimed in claim
 1. 